Trump meets Ukrainian President Vodimir Zelensky before Pope Francis’ funeral
President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at Funeral of Pope Francis “There was a very productive discussion,” the White House said Saturday.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian government called the meeting “constructive” and said the two leaders were working to arrange another. Zelenskyy said in a statement on social media that it was a “good meeting”.
“We talked a lot one-on-one,” Zelenskyy said. “Hopefully achieve results in everything we cover. Protect the lives of the people. A fulfilling and unconditional ceasefire. A reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. If we achieve joint results, it is a historic, very symbolic meeting. Thanks @potus.”
Ukraine’s presidential news service released images of the meeting, as well as images of the meeting between Mr. Trump, Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Handouts from the Presidential Office of Ukraine
Mr. Trump is trying to reach a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 after sending troops into eastern Ukraine for the first time in 2014. He left Italy and returned to the United States shortly after the end of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Saturday’s president was one of more than 50 state heads and other distinguished guests attending the funeral of Pope Francis, where he personally paid tribute to the Roman Catholic leaders who explicitly disagree with him on various issues.
CBS News Network BBC News reported that he also briefly met Prince William of Britain.
Trump arrives at the Vatican with his wife Melania Trump. When Zelenskyy arrived at the ceremony, the gathering crowd burst into applause.
Ukrainian President’s News Service/By Reuters Handout 
Mr. Trump told reporters Friday that he would be having a funeral “out of respect” when he flew to Rome, and he suffered a stroke at the age of 88 on Monday.
Mr. Trump, who includes immigration, treats immigration and climate change, broadly disagrees. The relationship between the Pope and the U.S. president was cheated in their relationship early on. In 2016, Francis hinted at the time Trump and his campaign to “build the wall”, saying that anyone who built the wall to prevent immigration from being “not Christian.” Mr. Trump said the comments were “shameful”.
But after Francis’ death, the Republican president praised him as a “good guy” who “works hard” and “loves the world.” Mr. Trump also instructed that in the honor of Francis, our flags hang in the honor of Francis.
Nathan Howard/Reuters 
Mr. Trump had said several times before leaving Washington that he would have “many” meetings with his peers outside the funeral. But when he flew to Rome, he seemed to retreat.
The president told reporters that when he was accompanying him on Air Force One, the president told reporters. Still, Mr. Trump said: “I’m going to talk to people. I’ll meet a lot of people.”
When asked if he was just meeting with the leader in passing or holding more in-depth negotiations, Mr. Trump did not elaborate. He suggested that he might meet at the U.S. ambassador’s residence Villa Taverna, where he stayed overnight.
“It’s a little hard because we don’t have much time,” Trump said, who was scheduled to return to the United States immediately after the funeral.
“I think we’re going to try to see a few people who are important to what we’re doing,” Mr. Trump said.
He released the Truth Society shortly after he arrived in Rome, where Ukraine and Russia should meet “very high negotiations” to end the bloody three-year war caused by the Russian invasion. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier Friday, and Trump said the two sides were “very close to the deal.”
Zelenskyy arrived in Rome on Saturday for funeral, joining Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska. Putin did not participate.
Aaron Navarro and Haley Ott contributed to the report.
